| |
Posted Dec 15, 2023, 7:46 AM
|
 |
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: May 2023
Location: JXN Mississippi
Posts: 599
|
|
Through the Years: Parham Bridges Park continues to improve despite some plans not becoming realities
Quote:
A three-hole, mini golf course that will be free to play is set to open next year at Parham Bridges Park in Jackson.
The course, which will be constructed west of the playground on Ridgewood Road, is the latest improvement to be announced at the park.
“It’s definitely coming,” said Margo Coleman, executive director of First Tee-Central Mississippi, a youth development organization that introduces young people to the game of golf.
Park Golf, a national nonprofit with a mission of building free-to-use, equipment-provided mini courses in public parks or at existing golf courses to introduce youngsters to the game, is footing the bill.
The cost is estimated to be $300,000 to $500,000, although increased materials cost could raise it to $600,000 to $700,000.
“It’s not anticipated to go over $1 million,” Coleman said,
With that price tag, the mini golf course is easily the largest investment in Parham Bridges Park in recent years.
“We’re optimistic we will open in the spring, probably at the end of May,” Coleman said. “Our engineering firm is working with the city of Jackson to finalize plans so we can begin to move dirt. The process is lengthy. With the location being in a floodplain that makes it tricky.”
Through the years, residents, nonprofits, civic organizations and the city of Jackson have played a role in establishing and improving Parham Bridges Park, which is anchored by a tennis center and pro shop.
Located at the intersection of Ridgewood and Old Canton roads, the park dates to the 1970s when W.P. Bridges Sr. donated the tract between Old Canton Road and Ridgewood Road to the city for a greenspace.
A 15-court tennis center with clubhouse was built that would be managed by Dorothy Vest, whose family played a pioneering role in promoting tennis in Mississippi.
The tennis center would be recognized as one of the top public facilities in the South.
Through the 1970s and 1980s, the facility received numerous awards and honors, including being named twice as Organization of the Year by the Southern Tennis Association. The award is given to the top club public or private in the nine-state southern section.
“The tennis center was considered high on the pedestal of what a city could provide,” said Barney Chadwick of Oxford, who managed the center for more than 15 years after Vest retired.
Parham Bridges would certainly be a different place if all the plans announced through the years had come about.
It would include a stadium tennis court, a splash pad and additional playground equipment.
The tennis center developed an impressive tournament schedule, which brought in visitors from across the country, Chadwick said. “We felt the next step was to build a stadium court.”
In November 1993, plans were announced for an 805-seat stadium tennis court with courtyard as phase one of a $1.35 million expansion to be funded by privation donations with a portion contributed by the city. Phase two was to bring additional parking, more tennis courts and renovations to the existing facilities and 15 tennis courts.
“We had a fabulous luncheon at the home of Kelley Williams and an exhibition match with tennis stars Chris Evert and Chanda Rubin,” Chadwick said. “It was called ‘A day at Court starring Chris Evert.”’
Kane Ditto, who was mayor of Jackson at the time, participated in a mixed-doubles game that was part of the fundraising event.
Mayor of Jackson from 1989 until 1997, Ditto recalled the honor of playing with Evert, who dominated women’s tennis for much of the 1970s and 1980s, winning 18 major singles titles. Evert has been in the news recently for the return of cancer.
To play at his best, Ditto recalls putting in hours of practice weeks before the fundraiser.
The event raised about $20,000, but stalled after that, Chadwick said.
The 805-seat stadium court meant additional parking would be needed and that piece of the project proved to be too challenging. Parham Bridges Park is bordered by Old Canton Road, Ridgewood Road, Green Oak Garden Center and a portion that Hanging Moss Creek flows across.
“We could not come up with a real solution that was affordable,” Chadwick said. “
The stadium court that would have allowed the tennis center to attract even bigger tournaments was never built because the project stalled, said Chadwick, who after leaving Parham Bridges served as general manager/tennis director at River Hills Club for 13 years. After that, he assisted with the tennis court design at The Club at the Township in Ridgeland where he was ramp-up manager and responsible for The Club’s opening.
Chadwick founded Goose Creek Tennis Club, which features Oxford’s only clay court. He sold his interest in Goose Creek but continues using his experience in hospitality management with his son’s restaurants, Rafters.
The $20,000 raised for the stadium court ended up being used to make improvements for the existing tennis courts, he said.
One of the most successful endeavors at the park has been a grassroots one.
Jackson residents Hope Carter and Daphne Clark led volunteer efforts to raise $300,000 to add playground equipment, a restroom and extend the existing parking lot,
“Daphne and I walked at Parham Bridges Park,” recalled Carter, who serves as assistant vice president for development at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
“We were taking our kids to parks in Madison because there was no playground at Parham Bridges.”
The late Dr. Hugh G. “Doc” Ward, a veterinarian and owner of Canton Mart Shopping Center, was among Jackson businessmen and residents who launched the project with their donations, she said.
“Harvey Johnson was the mayor, Ben Allen was the council member from that area,” she said. “The city managed the project. We didn’t have the means to set up our own 501(c)(3) organization. Donors made out their checks to the city of Jackson.
“We would probably do it differently now, but it turned out great.”
Donors to the project are listed at the park, said Carter, who is still proud of what she and Clark achieved.
“I’d never done anything like that before,” she said. “It launched my career.”
Carter served as president of the Junior League of Jackson in 2004-2005 and as president of the Mississippi Children’s Museum board during the campaign for the new museum. Her career has taken her from the University of Georgia to Georgia State University to Millsaps College, where she was vice president of institutional advancement from 2017 until 2021, to her current role at the University of Florida.
To make the children’s playground more user friendly, a pavilion for birthday parties and other events was eventually added. The Exchange Club of North Jackson helped by paying for materials to pave the parking lot at the children’s playground using proceeds from the sale of Christmas trees.
In 2002, the city of Jackson, the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and residents chipped in to improve the tennis center as part of the “Build a Better Bridges” campaign that brought in about $150,000. The addition of 400 square feet to the pro shop, repairs to the center’s back meeting room, a new deck on the north side of the facility and a canopy on the front of the building resulted.
In 2012, the city re-paved the mile-long asphalt exercise trail that was completed in 1975. The trail once featured exercise stations built by the Jackson Jaycees; now the park has FitLot fitness equipment sponsored by AARP.
Plans announced in 2019 for a splash pad behind the children’s playground never worked out.
The costs of the splash pad increased significantly after plans were announced and the city put the funding in building a splash pad in Presidential Hills Park II on Flag Chapel Road.
One project that did come about at Parham Bridges was the construction of a new entrance off Old Canton Road where a former Jackson Police Department substation once stood. The station was torn down in 2017 by a local nonprofit, Revitalize Mississippi, free of charge after it closed and was in a state of disrepair. A $15,000 grant from the LeFleur East Foundation and funds from the city foot the bill for the new entrance.
Last year, the Rotary Club of North Jackson did its part to improve the park by planting three maple trees and installing several new park benches and trash receptacles to commemorate the club’s 50th anniversary.
LeFleur East Foundation, a nonprofit created to improve and enrich the quality of life for residents and businesses in the LeFleur East area of Jackson, is stepping up to create a master plan for the park.
“We’re in the draft process,” said Clay Hays, a Jackson cardiologist who is the chair of the LeFleur East Foundation Board of Directors.
The foundation hired Travis Crabtree, former director of long-range planning for the city of Jackson’s Planning and Development office and an experienced urban planner, to design the master plan. Crabtree and Hays were instrumental in bringing the Museum Trail, the multi-use trail that connects the Mississippi Farmers Market on High Street to the LeFleur’s Bluff Museum District that includes the Mississippi Children’s Museum and the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.
Park Golf’s plans to install the free three-hole mini golf course at the park provided the forward motion for the foundation to consider enhancements to the rest of the park, he said.
Just as classes at Parham Bridges Tennis Center have introduced countless individuals to tennis, the goal of the mini golf course is similar, but the game is golf, Coleman said.
“We hope people will come out and try it and later transition to a full size nine- or 18 hole golf course and say, ‘I’m a golfer now,”’ she said.
Coleman said leaders at Jackson Academy, which is across the street from the park, and Spann Elementary, which is also nearby, have expressed interest in having school groups try the course after it opens.
The hours of operation for the mini golf course have not been determined but it will be manned when open, Coleman said. It will not be open at night because there are no plans for it to be lighted, she said.
Jackson residents, civic organizations and nonprofits are important to the health of the city’s parks, said Virgi Lindsay, who represents Ward Seven on the city council and heads the council’s parks committee.
Belhaven residents have raised “hundreds of thousands of dollars” to improve Laurel Street Park, Belhaven Park and Belhaven Heights Park, said Lindsay, a Belhaven resident.
“There is a huge tradition in greater Belhaven for residents to take ownership of the green spaces,” she said. “Fondren Park is another park that has had substantial investment from that community.”
Investments by nonprofits and civic organizations in parks remain key, Lindsay said.
“It’s absolutely necessary because government dollars can’t do it all,” she said. “All across the nation every viable green space has a nonprofit friends group, including our national parks.”
https://www.northsidesun.com/through...&e_sort_order=
|
Year later Willie Morris Library still needs repairs from flooding
Quote:
Next month marks a year since a pipe burst at the Willie Morris Library in Jackson and flooded about two-thirds of the building.
The branch at 4912 Old Canton Road is open and offering programs such as Christmas Smores Day (Dec. 19), but much of the facility lacks flooring and additional repairs remain to be tackled.
“Everything is left to do,” said Floyd Council, executive director of the Jackson-Hinds Library System.
Council is unsure what the repairs will cost, but he has heard an estimate of $100,000 to $140,000.
A pipe burst in the men’s restroom on Jan. 28, pouring water out into much of the facility.
The meeting room is unavailable for use and a small kitchen near it needs repairs, including the replacement of cabinets that were damaged. The men’s restroom needs new drywall, a new vanity and sink.
The damaged flooring was taken up and the adhesive that held it in place was removed so that the concrete surface would be safe to walk on and the library could reopen in April.
“It would certainly look better if it had flooring,” said Michelle Hudson, a Jackson resident and retired Jackson-Hinds Library System librarian who faithfully attends the system’s board meetings and encourages others to do so.
“It’s usable but I think it says the city doesn’t care.”
The city of Jackson has filed an insurance claim and is awaiting word about the claim before making repairs, said Peyton Smith, a Belhaven resident who chairs the Jackson-Hinds Library System Board of Trustees.
Hudson doesn’t expect the repairs to be made any time soon, given the many years it can take the city to agree to a settlement.
“Look at how long it took the city to negotiate a settlement with its insurance provider after the 2013 hailstorm,” she said. “Ten years.”
Without question the No.1 issue facing the Jackson-Hinds Library System remains the maintenance of its facilities, Smith said. “We’re at the mercy of the city and county as far as repairs,” he said.
Under Mississippi law, a county or municipality must fund the purchase of land and construction of a building for a public library and equip and maintain it.
Council asked during his budget presentation to the Jackson City Council in August that the city provide an additional $1 million in funding so that repairs could be made to the Richard Wright Library and the Medgar Evers Library and the system could have a maintenance office, but his request was denied.
The Jackson-Hinds Library System has seven branches in Jackson, one of which is permanently closed and another of which is temporarily closed, and seven branches in Hinds County with locations in Clinton, Byram, Bolton, Edwards, Terry, Utica and Raymond.
Once the flagship of the system, the Eudora Welty Library in downtown Jackson is permanently closed after falling into disrepair and is expected to be demolished when plans are in place and funds are available to make way for a green space. The Richard Wright Library on McDowell Road in south Jackson is temporary closed after being vandalized and the Medgar Evers Library at 4215 Medgar Evers Blvd. has significant HVAC issues.
Funding is available to make repairs to the Medgar Evers Library, Smith said.
Smith, an attorney who realized there was an opening for the Ward Seven representative on the board of directors and volunteered to fill it, said it took years for maintenance to become an issue at the branches and it will take time for the issues to be addressed.
“It’s going to be a slow process,” he said. “I do think we are making progress and some of it will start to show in 2024.”
https://www.northsidesun.com/year-la...&e_sort_order=
|
Sporting goods store opens in old Madison Walgreen’s
Quote:
A sporting goods store is the latest business to open in the shopping center at Highway 51 and the Madison Parkway, developers say.
Bandwagon Sports, owned by Robert Brister, opened its doors in late November and held a ribbon cutting last Thursday, Nov. 7. Brister said they are going for an “old school sporting goods store feel.”
Brister offers apparel for local school teams as well as sports equipment, team uniforms, athleisure wear and more. Birster said he has previously operated the business online for the past five or six months.
Robert moved his family back to his hometown of Madison from out of state in 2020. He moved here with his wife, Jenn and their daughters Rylee, 9, Alex, 6, and Collins who is three.
Brister is a 2000 graduate of Jackson Preparatory School and grew up in Madison. He said he hopes his store will help “celebrate” the teams in the community and “get people involved.”
Bandwagon is one of six tenants in the new shopping center developed by Bridgforth Rutledge, a local real estate attorney and developer.
Rutledge bought the building, an old Walgreens, in January of this year and converted it to a new space. The first business to open was Little Caesars Pizza on Nov. 3. Since then Bandwagon has opened their doors as well as a Mattress Firm.
All six spots are leased, according to Rutledge. The three forthcoming businesses are Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Southern Flare Salon and The Lost Sock. Rutledge said they all hope to open in the next couple of months.
Rutledge said a three-story multi-tenant building is also in the works next door to this building. He said he hoped to have more information on that at a future date.
The former Walgreen’s building is located at 1089 Highway 51. Bandwagon is in Suite 500.
https://onlinemadison.com/stories/sp...lgreens,90441?
|
Magee Chamber of Commerce welcomes House of Buds
Quote:
The Magee Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting for its newest member House of Buds located at 521 5th St. SW. Pictured in the center is eneral manager Bill Johnson along with owner Justin Jones and his father, Mike Jones. Friends and chamber members were on hand to welcome the medical marijuana dispensary to Magee.
https://www.simpsoncounty.ms/local-c...?e_term_id=846
|
Champagne Taste Clothing & Company open for business
Quote:
The Magee Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting for a new boutique, Champagne Taste Clothing & Company located at 1740 Simpson Highway 49N, Suite 2. Several Chamber members were on hand to welcome owner Lauren Barnes and her husband Scott, pictured above with family members and their pup Izzy.
https://www.simpsoncounty.ms/local-c...&e_sort_order=
|
Magee Barber and Style ribbon cutting
Quote:
The Magee Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for member Magee Barber and Style at its new location, 1740 Simpson Highway 49N. Pictured in the center is owner Sara Hayman with her husband, Clinton, their children, shop employees and Chamber members. Hayman originally opened Magee Barber in February 2020.
https://www.simpsoncounty.ms/local-c...&e_sort_order=
|
Magee Chamber of Commerce welcomes Newks
Quote:
The Magee Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for its newest member Newk's Restaurant located at 1740 Simpson HWY 49, Suite 1. Owned and operated by Russell and Russell Restaurants, it is the first of six Newk's father and son, Skip and Kyle Russell will be opening over the next six years in Mississippi and Louisiana. Skip and Tracy Russell, their children Kyle and Sydney Kate, along with Skip's parents, Pete and Marsha Russell are pictured above. Kyle is managing partner of Magee Newk's.
https://www.simpsoncounty.ms/food-dr...&e_sort_order=
|
Last edited by vetteking; Dec 15, 2023 at 12:34 PM.
|
|
|
Prev
Linear Mode
